Corn-harvester.



No. 760,654. PATBNTED MAY 24, 1904.

, J. I. SMITH,

OOR'N' HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, 1903.

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No.'760,654. .PATB-NTBD MAY 24, 1904.

. J. F, SMITH. v

CORN .HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED m. 17. 1903.

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1 ins an. PHoTo-u no" WASNINGTON n c UNITED STATES Patented May 24,1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FRANKLIN SMITH, OF ALDWIN, KANSAS.

j o'o N-HARvEsTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Il'o. 760,654, dated May24, 1904. v

I Application filed February 17, 1903. Serial No. 143,865. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN FRANKLIN SMITH,

a citizen of the United States, residing at'Bald-' win, in the county ofDouglas and State .of- Kansas, have invented anew and useful Corn-Harvester, of which the following isa specification. I 1

This invention relates to that class of machines which are broadlyknownas cornharvesters, and mypresent invention relates moreparticularly to that class of corn-harvesters comprising an organizedmachine whereby the ears of-corn arestripped or gathvide husking meanswhereby the hus'ks'shall be stripped and separated from the earsand thelatter be delivered to a carrier, and, further, to provide means wherebyshelled corn shall be saved.

With these and other objects' inview my invention consists in theimproved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts which willbe hereinafter-fully described, and particularly pointed out'in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan View of acorn-harvesting machineconstructed in accordance with the principles ofmy invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of thesame, taken on theline 2 2 in'Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4c'is asectionaldetail view taken on the line 4 4; in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail viewshowing a modification whereby the snappingrol-ls are combined withspiral screws for assisting in feeding the stalks to saidsnapping-rolls. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail taken on the line6 6 inFig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating the method of connectingthe tongue with theframe of the cent carrier-chain.

A further object of the invention is to proinvention.

machine." Fig. -8 is a detail view illustrating the hinged tray 78 andrelated parts. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing one end of the shaft 7 7and intermediate means for driving the adja- Fig. 10 is a perspectivedetail view taken from the rear; and showing all excepting the upperends of the snappingrollers and illustrating the relative positions ofsaid snapping-rollers.

. Corresponding parts in the several views are indicated by similarnumerals of reference.

The frame of my-improvedmachine, which is generally designated 1, hasbeen shown as mainly rectangular in-shape, it being understood,however,-=- that as regards the' frame structure departures may be madefrom the exact form hereinshownwhenever it shall be found necessary inorder to adapt'the said frame more efficiently to the purpose of myinvention. The said frame is sup ported upon wheels 2 and-3,- mountedupon independent axles 4 and 5, the bearings or boxes of which, 1P, areindependently adjustable in yokes-2 I carried by the frame, thuspermitting the latter to be raised or lowered, as may be desired,

" the exact adjusting means being no part of my The wheel 2 is securelymounted. upon a sleeve which is revoluble upon the axle. Said wheel2-constitutes what is known as a driving-wheel, by means of whichmotionis supplied "to the operative parts of the device. I Y

The frame 1 is provided-with arches 3?,

through which the row of stalks from which the cornis husked passes, andthe rear arch 3 is provided with suitably-extendingbrackets 6, formingbearings for a transverse shaft 7, one end of which carries asprocket-wheel 8, connected by a chain 9 with a sprocket-Wheel 10 upontheaxle 4. Thefshaft 7 also carries asprocket-Wheel 11, which isconnected, by

means of a chain 12, with a sprocket-wheel 13 7 upon a counter-shaft 14,which is journaled insuitable bearings in aframe 15, which is supportedupon a pair of segment-racks 16 and held at any desiredadjustment-thereon by means ofdogs or pawls17, operated by hand'- levers18.; The teeth of-the rack-bars16 are spaced apart adistance equal tothe length or the links in the chain 12. Thus when adjustment of theframe 15 upon the supporting rack-bars is made the chain 12 is to belengthened or shortened by removing or adding links, one link beingremoved or added for each notch that the frame is lowered or raised. Itwill thus be seen that the said chain will always properly connect thesprockets 11 and 13 and cause motion to be transmitted from the shaft 7to the shaft 14.

The frame 1 supports a pair of forwardlyextending gathering-arms 19 and20, which diverge in the usual manner at their front ends and whichsupport the inclined shelves 21, in which bearings are provided for theshafts 22, carrying sprocket-wheels 23 for the endless chains 24, whichare equipped in the usual manner with fingers 25, that extend laterallyto engage the cornstalks and guide them rearwardly between the gatheringdevices as the machine progresses over the field. The rear shafts 22 ofthese gathering devices are connected at theirlower ends, by means ofknuckle-joints 26, with vertical shafts, (designated, respectively, 27and 28,) the lower ends of said shafts being provided with steps orbearings 29 and 30, disposed, respectively, upon the arms 19 and 20.Motion is transmitted to these shafts and from the. latter to theendless chains 24 by means which will be more fully hereinafterdescribed.

Brackets forming additional bearings for the shafts 27 and 28 may beprovided, if deemed necessary for the purpose of insuring the necessarystability and steadiness of movement, such brackets being mounted orformed upon any convenient part of the frame of the machine.

I prefer to cover or inclose the gatheringarms with hoods or covers, as28", of sheet metal or other suitable material, in order to protect theparts and to prevent entanglement. These hoods may be of anysuitableconstruction, and they may be secured in position, preferablydetachably, in any convenient manner.

The means for stripping the ears from the stalks are located in rear ofthe gathering devices which have just been described, and said strippingmeans include a pair of rollers 32 and 33, each of which comprises alower conical portion 34 and an upper tapering portion 35, which joinsthe base of the cone 34 and tapers gradually in an upward direction.

The lower ends or points of the cones 34 are journaled in bearings, hereshown as consisting of elbows 36, one of which, that of the outer roller33, is provided with a laterally- In this manner provision is made forthe separation of the lower ends or points of the rollers, which arethus permitted to adjust themselves to various thicknesses of stalks.The lower end of the roller 32 may be similarly mounted; but this is notconsidered necessary, inasmuch as the single spring will provide asufficient degree of flexibility.

While I have referred to the conical points 32 and 33 as the lower endsof the rollers, it is not thereby to be understood that the latter aredisposed vertically with relation to the frame of the machine, the saidrollers being simply inclined in an upward and rearward direction, theirupper ends being journaled in the adjustable frame 15, which has alreadybeen described, and provided with spur-gears 32" 33", meshing with eachother, as shown.

The bearings of the snapping-rollers are extended, as shown at 34" 35",to form auxiliary bearings, in which spirally-ribbed rollers or screws,as 36, may be mounted, this being the modified form illustrated in Figs.5 and 6, said screws being geared to and driven by the snapping-rollersfor the purpose of directing the stalks of corn toward the saidsnapping-rollers, and thereby increasing the efficiency of the operationof the machine. These screws or spirally-ribbed rollers may, however, bedispensed with when desired. An important feature of the disposition ofthe snapping-rollers is that the upper end of the shaft of the outerroller is journaled in a plane above that of the inner roller, as willbe clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings as well as in the detail viewFig. 10, so that said rollers, which are slightly spaced apart at theirlower ends, shall overlap at their upper ends, the outer roller 33extending spirally across the inner roller 32. It will also be seen thatwhile at their lower 1 ends the rollers are spaced apart at their upperends they are practically in contact with each other. The shaft 40 ofthe outer roller carries a pinion 41, which meshes with a bevelgear 42upon the shaft 14, whereby a rotary movement is transmitted to saidroller. It will be readily understood that when stalks of corn enterbetween the conical-pointed lower ends of the rollers they will by thepeculiar relative disposition of said rollers be bent in an inwarddirection toward the center of the frame of the machine and that as themachine progresses the rollers will gradually close in upon the stalks,and thus when the ears are reached they will be snapped off and beguided and caused to drop over the inner rollers and in an inwarddirection, the elevated position of the rear end of the outer rollernormally preventing the cars from dropping in an outward direction. Toassist in the certain attainment of this result, a shield 43 isprovided, said shield being mainly supported by the frame 15 andadjustable therewith.

Adjacent to the inner stripping-roller 32 is supported an'inclinedtrough or chute '44,: which receives" the ears stripped fromLthe stalksbyithe said rollers and conveys. the samein aidownward', and forwarddirection toward the front end of theframeof the machine, where theears'discharged from thesaid ch ute are deposited-upon thebushing-rollers.- In the drawings hereto annexed I have shown two pairsof husking-rollers; ;but I desireit to be understoodthatI do not limitmyself to the use:of two pairs-while, on the other hand; at timesonly-a'single pair may be re-.

quired or found-necessary. Thesaid husking-rollers,ih owever, are.invariably used in pairs, the rollersof each pair being designated,respectively, and 46. The rollers 45 are provided with ribs 47', formedspirally;

thereon andenga'girig grooves '48,'which are formed spirally in therollers 46.; The latter are also provided with suitably-disposedpoints Vor projections49,forming huSking-pegs'which are diposed inalinemen-t-with annular grooves 50 in the: roller 45. The shafts oftheseveral hus'king-rollers are provided with suitable bearings in theframe 51 the shafts5l of the rollers .46being extended rearwardly andpro A vided with bevel-pinions 52, meshing withbevel-gears 53 upon ashaftf50, from which motion is transmitted to said rollersand which alsoserves as a-s'upport for the frame 51 which is pivotally mounted uponsaid. shaft.

Motion is transmitted to the husking-rollers from the shaft 50*, whichis provided with a sprocket-wheel, 51", connected bya chain 5,2 with asprocket-wheel 53lupon the shaft 7, from which it derives motion. Saidrollers are also connected in pairs by means of spurgears 5 3 at theirfront fiends, whereby the.

, rollers ofeach pair'are caused torotate in opposite directions, vThefront end. ofi the pivoted frame supporting the husking-rollers isvertically adjustable by means .of a-catchlever 52,connected withsaid'frame and en-. gaging a rack 52 whereby it may be support ed atanydesired elevation within the limits of.the,segmcnt rack. The rollers maythus. be tilted in a downward and-I rearward direction at anydesired-degree of inclinationiwhich will facilitate operation. .1 v y 1ltwillbe observed that when, as in the present instance, two pairs ofrollers areused the chute 44 -will be arranged so as to discharge intothe space between theforwardends of the two pairs of rollers or, inother words, upon the front ends -of'the roller 4'6 of the one-pair andthe roller 45 of the other pair, said rollers revolving upwardlyandoutwardl y from each other,-.sothat the earswill be naturally carriedover. the said rollers 46 and 45;

and into contact-with the adjacent rollers 45 and 46, whereby they areto be strippedof their r husks. This strippingoperation is performed bythe joint action of the pegs 49, which loosen and engage the husks, theribs 47, engaging the grooves 48, wherebythe ears are carried in arearward direction upon the rollers, and by the contacting portions ofthe rollers themselves,

which engage the husks and t ear'or strip them I from the ears, thelatterpassingrearwardly, as stated, while thejh usks are dischargeddown-f wardly betweentherollers. In this manner theears will be quicklyand effectuallyde- 'prived of' the husks, thelatter being. dischargedupon theground, while the ears'fare carried rearwardly. and dischargedover 'the' rear. ends of the rollers into a trough orre-., ceptacle 54,which is supported upon the rear part of the frame of the machine.v l hetrou, rh

54 is gently inclined, sdt'hat the huskedears deposited therein shall bedischarged by gravity onto an endless carrier 56', disposed'trans-flversely at therear part .of "the frame, said endless carrierbeing.composedbrdinarily of a chain 57 mounted upon sprocket -wheels upon]suitably disposed shafts, 'oneof. which,

59,- is connected by miter-gearing 60.-"with., a

short vertical shaft 61, which is connected by mitergearing 62 "with theshaft 50 from :-which motion isthusstransmitted to the endi-x.

less carrier 56; The latter'works in'a casing 62 in the Inannerof an'ordinaryv elevator O1;---'

carrier, said casing being ':be nt,-as'shown, so

as to clear the arches 3 and thereby avoidzits I being subjected tocontact with stalks passing.

under the arches. a

The shaftl4 is providedwith a sprocketwheel 64, connected a chain 65with a sprocket-wheel 66,,upona shaft" 67, which is suitably mounted inthe. frame of the machine, and which transmits'smotion through miter-'--gearing, 68 to ashortvertical shaft, .69, the

lower end of which carriesasprocket-wheel 7 0, connected by a chain-7lwith.asprocketwheel 7 2 upon the vertical shaft -2 8, whereby 1thejgathering mechanism, supported upon the arm .20, 1s driven.

A suitably-disposed short shaft 68 carries a small stiffsreel 69 and a,wheel 7 O engaging the ,chain..71, whereby it ping-rolls.

f One of'the frame bars which was the is driven, said reel I-thusserving to assist in forcing refractory stalks between thesnap-"11olower .endsof the snapping-rollers is provided 1 with ahinged-tray7,8, which has a triangular portion that extends r'earwardlybetween the ,conical frontends ,ofthe stripping-rollers,

while the front edgejofthe said, tray has a curve or roll 79 slanting inan upward and.

rearward direction, as will. be seen most clearly by-reference. to Fig.'1 of. the drawings. It

ers, sothat when the ico'rnstalks approach the .I 20 will be seenthatlthistray is disposed between the gathering de'viceszaiid thesnapping-rolk latter they will engageltheslantingly-curved i front edgeof the said tray, tilting the latter -54, hereinbefore referred to,whenever the said tray is tilted by the action of the corn. Auxiliarycorn-saving trays of a similar construction may be hinged to theframe-bar underneath the snappingrollers, one of said trays beingindicated at in Fig. 3.

The carrying mechanism, comprisingthe arms 19 20, with the shelves 21,shafts 22, sprocket-wheels 23, and chains 24, associated therewith, issupplemented by auxiliary endless carrying chains 81, supported uponshelves 82, the lower ends of which are extended under the upper ends ofthe shelves 21 and are supported in part by means of suitably-disposedbrackets 83". The chains 81, which are provided with fingers 84, areoperated by means of sprocket-wheels 85 upon the shafts 22, the upperends of said chains being mounted upon sprocket-wheels 86, suitablysupported upon shafts at the upper ends of the shelves 81.

It will be understood that the disposition of the shelves 82, with thecarrier-chains 81, with relation to the snapping-rollers may be changedwithin the scope of my invention, the object of said carrier-chains,which are provided with heavy stalk-engaging fingers, being to feed thestalks into contact with the snapping-rollers with certainty,as will bereadily understood.

For the purpose of conveying motion to the endless-carrier mechanismsupported by the arm 19 and its related parts I avail myself of a shaft77, having a sprocket-wheel 7 8, connected by a chain 78 with asprocket-wheel 78 upon the shaft 7, the shaft 77 being supported insuitable bearings, one of which may be formed in a bracket 7 8 risingfrom the frame of the machine. The shaft 77 carries at one end abevel-gear 78 which may be made to mesh with a bevel-gear 7 8, mountedupon the shaft which supports the sprocketwheel 86, thus transmittingmotion to the parts referred to.

101 designates the tongue, which is provided with means for theattachment of the draft, here shown as an ordinary doubletree 102. Therear end of the tongue is pivotally connected with the arch 3 of theframe. At an intermediate point close to the front crossbar of the frameof the machine the tongue is connected by a link 103 with a lever 104,fulcrumed to a segment-rack 105, which is supported upon the front arch3 and which is provided with a suitably-operated dog or pawl 106,engaging the rack-segment for the purpose of maintaining the tongue inany posit1on to which it may be ad usted with relation thereto. By thismeans the front end or nose of the machine may be raised or lowered, as

will be readily understood.

The gathering mechanism supported upon the outer arm 20 is provided withrearwardlyextending elastic fingers 107, which are disposed adjacent tothe inner side of the outer snapping-roller 33, so'as to assist thelatter in bending the stalks to a position at which the ears shall besurely and effectively engaged by the said snapping-rollers.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention will bereadily understood. When the machine travels over the field, the standsof corn will be engaged by the gathering devices, which latter alsoserve to pick up broken and down stalks, which are conveyed in astanding or upright position between the said gathering devices. Thestalks of corn will engage the hinged tray 78, tilting the latter asidewhile the stalks pass into engagement with the snapping-rollers, thepoints of which. owing to their conical construction, are widely spacedapart. As the stalks enter the more con tracted space or gap between therollers the latter will serve to snap or remove the cars from thestalks, the ears being delivered onto the chute 44, while the tops ofthe stalks pass between the rollers and are left standing in the field.The cars are conveyed by the chute 44 to the husking-rollers, whichstrip and remove the husks therefrom, the ears being discharged into thetrough 54, passing from thence to the endless carrier, whereby they aredischarged.

It will be seen that my improved machine is especially constructed witha view to avoid unnecessary waste of corn, means being provided for thereception of loose and broken ears, as well as for the corn accidentallyshelled or removed from the ears.

The general construction of the machine is simple and comparativelyinexpensive, and in operation it will be found to be eflieient for thepurposes intended.

A special feature of my invention is the absence of all superfluousgearing, thereby causing lightness of draft.

It will be understood from the foregoing that when the machineprogresses over the field the stalks which are deprived of their ears bythe snapping-rollers are left standing in the field. On a subsequentround of the machine the stalks will not be entirely broken down, owingto the presence of the arches 3", which are so disposed that thedraft-animals will walk on each side of the row. It is true that thestalks will be to some extent bent by this second passage of themachine, butnot to such an extent as to be permanently injured orrendered worthless for fodder purposes. Thus the arches 3, while not ofa height to admit of the passage of the stalks in a standing positionand while not so positioned with relation to the draft as to absolutelyavoid interference therewith, are disposed in sucha many instancescapable of change and modificati on without materially departing fromthe spirit or changing the scope of my invention. Thus, for example,means for transmittlng motion other than chains and sprockets may beemployed whenever desired, the relative proportions of the individualparts or members of the machine may be altered, and the frame structuremay be changed when desired. Be it understood, therefore, that I reservethe right to any changes and modifications that may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention orsacrificing the utility of the same.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim 1. In a machine of the class described, a pair of snapping-rollershaving conical points flexibly supported with relation to and inhorizontal alinement with each other, and tapering bodies, and permanentsupports for the upper ends of the tapering bodies of said rollers,thepermanent support of one roller being disposed. in a plane above thatof the permanent support of the other roller.

'2. In a machine of the class described, a pair of snapping-rollershaving at their lower ends conical points flexiblysupp'orted withrelation to each other and in horizontal alinement, tapering bodies, andpermanent supports for the upper ends of said tapering bodies, saidpermanent supports being disposed out of horizontal'alinement andsospaced that the body of one roller shall partly overlap the body ofthe other roller.

3. In a machine of the class described, a pair of snapping-rollershaving conical points flexibly supported with relation to each other andin horizontal alinement, and permanently-supported upper ends, the upperend of one roller overlapping and in permanent contact with the upperend of the other roller, and a frame adjustably supporting thecontacting ends of the rollers.

4. In a machine of the class described, a pair of snapping-rollershaving conical points flexibly supported with relation to each other andin horizontal alinement, the upper end of one roller overlapping and inpermanent contact.

Withthe upper end of the other roller, an adjustable frame havingbearings for the contacting and permanently-related upper ends of theroller, and a shield supported by said frame and extending to a linejust above the surface of the adjacent roller.

5. In amachine of the class described, apair of snapping-rollers havingco nical'points in horizontal alinement with each other and spacedapart, and tapering bodies,the one overlapping and terminating incontact with the other an adjustable frame supporting the contactingends of'the rollers, a shield carried by said frame and resting upon theoverlapping roller and means for supporting said frame and for securingit at the desired adjustment.

6. In a machine of the class described, apair of snapping-rollers havingconical points flexibly supported with'relation to each other and inhorizontal alinement, and tapering bodies, the one overlapping andcontacting with the other, in combination with intermeshing spurwheelsmounted upon the engaging upper ends of the rollers, and means fordirectly driving one of the latter.

7. In a machine of the class described, a pair of snapping-rollershaving conical points flexibly. supported with relation to each otherand in horizontal alinement, and tapering bodies, the one overlappingand in contact with the other, in combination with an endless chainprovided with guide-fingers supported adjacent to the overlappingroller-body.

8. In a machine of the class described, apair of snapping rollers havingconical points spaced apart, in combination with a hinged tray having atriangular portion extending beneath and between thepoints of saidrollers.

' 9. In a machine of'the class described, a pair.

in horizontal alinement, and tapering bodies, 7 the one overlapplng andterminating 1n contact with the other, a receiving-chute disposed adacent to the lower snapping -',roller and husking-rollers disposed inpairs to receive the discharge from said chute. i

10. In a machine of the class described, a

pair of snapping-rollers having conical points spaced apart and taperingbodies, the one overlapping and terminating in contact with the other, ahinged tray disposed beneath and between the front ends of thesnapping-rollers and having a slantingly-curved front edge adapted to beengaged \by cornstalks entering between the snapping-rollers, a chutedisposed to receive the discharge from the snapping-rollers and from thehinged tray, and husking-rollers arranged in pairs to receive the'discharge-from said chute.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in l the presence of two witnesses.

J. FRANKLIN SMITH.

Witnesses:

S. A. LQUGH, W. BRISTERN.

